Wrexham County Borough Museum and Archive

Wrexham County Borough Museum and Archive
Address
Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives County Buildings, Regent Street
Postcode
LL11 1RB
Phone
01978 297 460
Region or country
Wales

Our museum is based in County Buildings built in 1857 as a barracks for the Denbighshire Militia. The militia kept their armoury upstairs in what is now Court Room 1 including guns and ammunition which had previously been held at Chester Castle. Militia officers lived in the building, whilst the squaddies were billeted in houses around town. They would train for one month per year.

By 1877 the militia had moved to the newly opened Hightown Barracks and County Buildings re-opened as the town’s Police Station and Magistrates Court in 1879 following some remodelling both internally and externally. The Denbighshire Constabulary were based on the ground floor of the building, with cells built to accommodate prisoners, including drunk and disorderly.

Following the removal of North Wales Police to Bodhyfryd in 1976-77, County Buildings lay empty until it became part of the local art college and opened as a brand new museum in 1996 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2010 – 2011.

The building also houses Wrexham Archives and Local studies which hold records relating to the history of the County Borough of Wrexham since its creation in 1996 and also records relating to the area when it was part of the old counties of Denbighshire and Flintshire.

What can be found at the venue?
Historic building or site
Significant collections relating to regional crime and punishment organisation or to a particular individual
See general description above for the museum building
Does the venue have an online collections catalogue?
No
Details of opening for public access and / or research services
Monday–Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday 11am–4pm
Admission is free; last admission 30 minutes before closing
We recommend visitors to the Archives book ahead owing to space restrictions. Email archives@wrexham.gov.uk or telephone 01978 297 480
Available services or facilities
Cafe, Shop, Toilets
Accessibility and disability arrangements / Covid requirements
There is an accessible toilet, with baby changing facilities, on the ground floor. The key is available from reception.
Date information added or updated:
08/08/2022
Entry ID No:
088